A year ago in April two young brothers died when an EF-5 tornado hit their Piedmont home.

Oklahomans held their breath as crews searched for more than two days to find one of the boys' bodies. Their mother and sister survived with serious injuries.

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For the first time, Hank and Catherine Hamil shared their story of loss with KOCO Eyewitness News 5's evening co-anchor Jessica Schambach. Their smiles mask the pain this family still feels.

"It's not really better, but you know, you don't cry as often because you can't go back in time and change it," said Catherine Hamil.

A moment or a memory gives a glimpse of the heartache she feels at the loss of her children.

"They were the very best of brothers," said Schambach.

"They were," said Catherine Hamil quietly. "They were."

Although time has passed and a baby has brought new life into the home, Catherine Hamil said, "It almost seems like yesterday, really."

She will never forget that spring day in Oklahoma in 2011.

"I could hear the newscaster saying how the national weather service does not issue these tornado warnings lightly," said Catherine Hamil as she became choked up. "Those words really touched me. I thought, wow, this is serious"

Hamil was four months pregnant when she squeezed into the bathtub with her daughter Cathleen and her two sons Ryan and Cole, who was asleep in her arms.

"We were just kind of waiting and we lost electricity," said Catherine Hamil. "Then, Ryan said 'Mama it's dark. I said I know Ryan.' I had flashlights nearby. I thought I could get them, but I was worried if the tornado might hit me. Then, I thought he doesn't like the dark and I could just grab them real quick."

Hamil said she got back just in time to put a mattress over their heads.

"Then I heard boom," said Hamil. "The house was hit and I remember saying 'Oh no'. I was holding the mattress down on top of them and that's the last thing I can remember until I woke up in a pile of 2 by 4s. It was horrible."

"The kids were all across the street," said Hamil. "I guess it ended up Cole was half in the water and half out of the water, so his feet must have been in the water. Ryan was probably right next to him or very close but no one could see him because he was in the water."

Hamil's husband, Hank Hamil, was out of town about 150 miles away. He said the drive home was one of the longest of his life. He said he arrived at the hospital to see his youngest son, 15-month-old Cole, one last time.

"He had a lot of head injuries and just cut up everywhere," said Hank Hamil. "You know you just can't imagine."

Hamil said he had to tell his pregnant wife, who was recovering in her own hospital bed, that their son didn't make it. Crews were still searching for 3-year-old Ryan.

"I was hoping we'd find him with his little flashlight, you know, walking around out there somewhere, but we didn't," said Hank Hamil.

Hank Hamil took Schambach to the property in Piedmont where they found Ryan's body. He said it is a trip they have taken many times. Cathleen, 6, who survived the tornado, seems carefree, but her heart still aches for her brothers.

"I was in shock when I first saw it," said Hank about seeing what remained of his Piedmont home. "I didn't know what to think."

"You can still see little bricks. And you know, it's hard," said Catherine.

Across the street, down by the water, it is a picture that is so serene. There are two white crosses etched with the boys' names. The crosses mark the spots where the boys were found, Cole, with his feet in the water, Ryan, underneath the water. It took crews more than two days to find Ryan.

"That was the hardest thing, not being able to come knowing he was out here because he was my baby and I wanted to see him," said Catherin Hamil.

"We miss our little buddies," said Hank Hamil.

As the sun sets and birds chirp, a piece of their home sits dusty and damaged nearly a year later.

The home is a part of their life that will eventually fade, but the memories of their only boys never will.

"We're comforted in the fact that we know they're in Heaven with God and so that brings us great peace," said Catherine Hamil.

The Hamils say they find comfort in their girls. Baby Hannah is 6 months old, bright-eyed, healthy and on the verge of sitting up. Their oldest daughter Cathleen is preparing to graduate from kindergarten.